“In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer.” Albert Camus

Thursday, 10 July 2014

Never Trust A Duck or Steampunk Strikes Back

The Infernal Devices (#1)Clockwork Angel byCassandra Clare

This
is a book about an ordinary girl who founds out that she is far from ordinary. Along
with that she discovers the whole new world of monsters and men – friends or
foes. If wouldn’t have been a story without a romantic hero, but here the girl
has even two of them. Sounds familiar? But not everything is so cliché.
Cassandra Clare creates very atmospheric and cosy world of Victorian London
from which you won’t be able tear yourself away.

The first
thing that will catch your eye is that there is a great number of different
allusions, quotes and epigraphs from classical literature. Well for some
readers this moment can be really tough and boring, but all the quotes are
suitable and understandable.

The
second is that somehow the plot of this book reminds you of The Mortal
Instruments, but it’s only temporary believe me. Plots are different.

Somehow
Victorian London carries away with its atmosphere, fogs and rains, dark lanes
and cosy parks and whole Down World. Here you will meet an old friend – Magnus Bane
(one of my favorite Clare’s characters btw). Here he’s younger for like more
than 100 years than in The Mortal Instruments. And he really IS younger; we see
what situations form his character and bring him his well-known wisdom.

Main character
Theresa Gray loves books and her brother Nate. But suddenly she discovers a
whole new world with vampires and werewolves, warlocks and fairies and she
herself is a warlock. Firstly she takes all this new information not very good
but then she gets a grip on herself and sets her priorities right understanding
who her real family is.

Switching
to main male characters you will not be surprised. Here we have two extremely opposite
and incredibly handsome young men. Will Herondale is like a really spoiled
version of Jace (not a big surprise as they are relatives), but I believe that
he has completely different story. James Carstairs is his exact opposite –
kind, intelligent, very sad and cureless ill. I feel there will be love
triangle.

The book
is wonderful. I recommend it to each and every fan of Cassandra Clare’s talent.
Many of you would enjoy this splendid fantasy story flavored with nice portion
of steampunk.

P.S. In case you wonder about the title...

“Remember when you tried to convince me to feed a poultry pie to the mallards in the park to see if you could breed a race of cannibal ducks?" "They ate it too," Will reminisced. "Bloodthirsty little beasts. Never trust a duck.”